4 years in prison for former deputy who assaulted wife, daughter

A former Montgomery County sheriff’s deputy was sentenced Nov. 15 to four years in prison for assaulting his wife and one of her daughters in February at their home in Warren County.

Judge Timothy Tepe also ordered Douglas Gearhart, 44, to pay more than $5,000 in restitution and complete three years of parole or face more prison time.

»RELATED: Former deputy awaits felonious assault, domestic violence verdicts

Gearhart resigned from his job as a deputy sheriff after an incident on Feb. 15 at a home he shared with his wife, and her daughters. His wife lost three teeth during an altercation at their home in Franklin Twp. that also involved one of the daughters.

“What a dishonor to the badge,” she said in a statement read by a victim’s advocate during the sentencing.

Gearhart broke down and cried after turning to her and her daughters to apologize.

“You were everything to me. The kids were everything to me,” Gearhart said.

»RELATED: Deputy previously suspended after a protection order filed by an ex-wife

In September, Tepe found Gearhart guilty on two counts of domestic violence and one of count felonious assault after a one-day bench trial. Gearhart was found not guilty on a driving while intoxicated charge.

Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell detailed the incident in a press release:

“Gearhart assaulted his wife and her daughter in their Franklin home. Gearhart grabbed his stepdaughter by her head and neck and shoved her into a door. When his wife tried to intervene, Gearhart grabbed her by the hair and shoved her to the ground, hitting her head on the kitchen island. … The victim was taken to the hospital by squad.”

Gearhart drove away before Warren County sheriff’s deputies and an ambulance crew arrived. He was later arrested by Warren County sheriff’s deputies.

“I share the opinion of our local men and women in blue who are relieved that he is no longer part of the law enforcement community,” Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell said in a statement issued after the hearing.

He and his wife were scheduled for a final noncontested hearing at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 17 in their divorce case, down the hall from the courtroom in Lebanon where he was sentenced.

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